In her letter to Napoleon III, Elizabeth Barrett Browning takes a strong and clever stance as to why the Emperor should pardon the great poet, Victor Hugo. With wit and ease, Elizabeth Barrett Browning using the rhetorical strategies of pathos, repetition and persona to petition Napoleon’s stance of hatred for Victor Hugo.
Browning utilizes the appeal of pathos in order to get Napoleon on “her side” and, in turn, make her petition more effective. In the opening statement, Browning states, “I am only a woman and have no claim on your Majesty’s attention except that of the weakest on the strongest”. By prefacing, and almost overshadowing, her argument with this initial statement, Browning appeal’s to Napoleon’s hubris, or excessive pride. As Browning praises Napoleon, calling him “the strongest” and “your Majesty”, she seeks to evoke feeling of pride and superiority within Napoleon himself, making him more open to persuasion. …show more content…
In the first paragraph, Browning states “ I never approached my own sovereign with a petition, nor am I skilled in the way of addressing kings.”. She also states, referencing Napoleon, that “ Passionately loving the democracy, I have understood from the beginning this it was to be served throughout Europe in you and by you.”. By doing so, Browning paints a picture of herself that may being appealing to Napoleon, and therefore persuade him. Browning paints herself as a person who is not only below Napoleon, but also respects him greatly. To a man who seeks admiration and glory, these are the kind of people he wants to listen to: people who love him. While Browning may not truly stand by all of the statements she makes about Napoleon, she heightens the persuasiveness of her petition by writing from a persona that strikes a chord with Napoleon and his desire for respect and love from his
Browning utilizes the appeal of pathos in order to get Napoleon on “her side” and, in turn, make her petition more effective. In the opening statement, Browning states, “I am only a woman and have no claim on your Majesty’s attention except that of the weakest on the strongest”. By prefacing, and almost overshadowing, her argument with this initial statement, Browning appeal’s to Napoleon’s hubris, or excessive pride. As Browning praises Napoleon, calling him “the strongest” and “your Majesty”, she seeks to evoke feeling of pride and superiority within Napoleon himself, making him more open to persuasion. …show more content…
In the first paragraph, Browning states “ I never approached my own sovereign with a petition, nor am I skilled in the way of addressing kings.”. She also states, referencing Napoleon, that “ Passionately loving the democracy, I have understood from the beginning this it was to be served throughout Europe in you and by you.”. By doing so, Browning paints a picture of herself that may being appealing to Napoleon, and therefore persuade him. Browning paints herself as a person who is not only below Napoleon, but also respects him greatly. To a man who seeks admiration and glory, these are the kind of people he wants to listen to: people who love him. While Browning may not truly stand by all of the statements she makes about Napoleon, she heightens the persuasiveness of her petition by writing from a persona that strikes a chord with Napoleon and his desire for respect and love from his